The Starfish Café

“Wellness for a lifetime” isn’t just the tagline for Starfish Cafe; it’s a kind of “mother sauce” for the flavorful meals prepared in the kitchen by executive chef Zac Fillhart and his apprentices.

Using garden-fresh herbs, vegetables and edible flowers along with locally grown and purchased ingredients, the Starfish Cafe has crafted an eclectic menu that goes beyond good, and straight to good-for-you. “We shop every day,” said Di Fillhart, executive director of PNEUMA Winds of Hope, the nonprofit that oversees the cafe. There isn’t even a walk-in on the premises, so you know it’s all fresh.

Each dish — from starters and soups to sandwiches and specials — is created and prepared with a focus on great taste and good health. That’s the commitment Fillhart made when she opened Starfish in 2013 as the centerpiece for a culinary learning program.

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The chickens served at Starfish are “free of steroids, antibiotics and cages,” says Di, and the beef is grass fed at a farm up in Collins, Mississippi.

A recent lunch for our trio started with greeting friends we spotted at just about every table in the small dining room. It’s that kind of place: familiar, friendly, and comfortable.

Our timing was off because of a very long freight train so the must-have spring rolls were already gone. Get there early to enjoy the spring mix with tomato, carrot, mango, cukes, mint and sesame ginger dressing inside a tapioca rice wrapper. The accompanying peanut sauce is homemade, as you would expect.

Rebounding from the spring roll miss, we ordered the roasted asparagus “fries,” deliciously crunchy with a parmesan coating, and a delicious, addictive starter.

One of the daily specials made its way to our table: the blackened Mississippi catfish tacos with mango mint coleslaw were served with organic chips and homemade pico.

“We’re so small that we can customize a lot of orders according to taste and dietary needs,” Di said. “If you have dietary restrictions, this is the place for people who find it difficult in other restaurants.”

If you’re the kind of diner who likes to go by the numbers, the cafe’s menu has an Under 500 section just for you. I’m not that kind of person but the Thai steak salad caught my attention. The marinated strips of filet topped a large portion of romaine, garden fresh basil, mint and cilantro and all of it was flavored with a citrusy Thai lime dressing. All that goodness and just 160 calories. I know.

There are a couple of other ingredients the folks at Starfish Cafe like to use in generous amounts. “We put a heavy portion of love and happiness in every dish,” said Di. “Our regulars tell us they can taste it.”

Scroll down for dozens of pictures of October happenings!If you're featured in one of the pictures below, feel free to copy it onto your desktop and share. If you're posting it somewhere like Facebook, a nod to the Cleaver is much appreciated!

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New Amazon Series Set for Pass Christian

Tig Notaro, image courtesy Tignation.com

In a 2013 interview with Mother Jones magazine, comedian Tig Notaro talked about growing up in Pass Christian, saying that she had "Nothing but good memories."

"I only lived there until kindergarten and then I used to go back and spend my summers and holidays with my grandmother and cousins and aunts and uncles. It's right there on the Gulf Coast, and we would hang out on the water and go sailing or fishing or crabbing or floundering and build bonfires and there's a harbor there and a yacht club."

Apparently, those fine memories were enough to bring her home when she recently tied the knot with long-time companion Stephanie Allynne. According tothe Sun Herald, guests included Sarah Silverman and Alicia Silverstone. During the weekend of October 24th and 25th, celebrity sightings were common in the Pass and Bay St. Louis (see Martha Whitney Butler's account below).

We'll all be seeing more of Tig since her new Amazon series "One Mississippi" is set in the Pass. According to an article in IndieWire, Notaro wrote the pilot. "Dark comedy starring comedian Tig Notaro — in a story loosely based on her life — follows her as she deals with the complex reentry into her childhood hometown of Bay Saint Lucille, Miss., to deal with the unexpected death of her mother.

Cast includes Noah Harpster (“Transparent”), John Rothman (“The Devil Wears Prada”) and Casey Wilson (“Gone Girl”) as Tig’s girlfriend, Brooke. Co-production with FX Prods. is written and executive produced by Notaro and Diablo Cody (“Juno”), executive produced by Louis C.K., Blair Breard (“Louie”) and Dave Becky (“Everybody Hates Chris”), with pilot directed and exec produced by Nicole Holofcener (“Enough Said”)."

I've seen several celebrities in my shop, but I never imagined that my childhood heroine, Xena the Warrior Princess (Lucy Lawless), would walk through my door and say, 'Are you Martha Whitney? You're quite the celebrity around here.' I almost fainted, but I maintained my cool as she and her friends checked out my store. She was so nice and they seemed to be having a great time.

Laura Hurt, barista at the Mockingbird Café made coffee for both Lawless and comedienne Sarah Silverman. Lauren Lapkus from Orange is the New Black found her 'happy place' at the roulette table in Hollywood Casino where a lot of the invitees were staying. Overall, it looks like all the guests had a wonderful time here on the Coast!

Back the Booster For INFINITY Science Center

The Saturn V was a three-stage American rocket used by NASA to support the Apollo program and later Skylab, the first American space station. The first stage, known as the S-IC, is 138 feet long and 33 feet in diameter. The only one known to be in existence has been in storage in New Orleans for the past 45 years.

NASA has agreed to permanently loan the booster to INFINITY Science Center as an exhibit. Also the Center has some state funds, they need to raise millions more to move it to INFINITY and to restore it. Watch the video below and get on board with this fascinating project! The Kickstarter Campaign ends on November 14th, but you can bet that won't be an end to the efforts!

Bay-Waveland Middle School Students Make Another Hit!

Take a look at this amazing documentary created by students from Bay-Waveland Middle School, Bay Saint Louis! This documentary was created for the 2015 Literacy Forum held at their school. The focus of this forum was the Civil War.

If you missed last year's production about the War of 1812, here's another chance!

Crusin' into Fall!

​This month’s Second Saturday Art Walk shares the stage in Old Town with the biggest event of the year: Cruisin’ the Coast! Find out why locals take advantage of both events! - story by Ana Balka, photos by Ellis Anderson

Bay Harbor Makes Top Ten

The Harbor wins the annual Boater's Choice Awards, making the list with major players like Key West. Find out why this small town harbor's getting international recognition. - story and photographs by Ellis Anderson

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Harbor Commission member Lee Seal agrees. Seal has been actively involved in the harbor since the conceptual phase, serving as the first chair of the commission. According to Seal – whose family boat is permanently berthed in the harbor – one of those right things is the harbor master himself.

“We have an outstanding staff,” says Seal. “Chuck’s doing a tremendous job. He brings decades of experience to the table and we’re very fortunate to have him.”

Seal says he was very excited to hear about the award and sees it as proof that word about the facility has spread.

“It’s great positive recognition for the city overall too,” says Seal. “This means that we’ve been recognized as a premier location.”

The harbor is doing other things right as well. It’s the Mississippi coast’s first and only Clean and Resilient Marina as well. The Gulf of Mexico Alliance’s Clean and Resilient program has stringent guidelines to promote and expand “resilient and environmentally responsible operations and best management practices at marinas.”

Of course, being adjacent to one of the coolest small towns in America helps. Restaurants, shopping, and art galleries make up part of the Bay’s scenic historic district. Fortin says that the harbor’s unique location ratchets interest higher as the word in the boating community spreads.

“We’re fielding more inquiries about slip leasing and have experienced a big uptick in transient dockage over last year. October is generally a slower month on the coast, but we’re going into it with more slips leased that we’ve ever had.”

Fortin points to the 35 transient slips that have been reserved for Cruisin’ the Coast in the second week of October.

“For larger boats, we’re already at capacity, but we still have a few slips available in the under-35-foot range.”

The Bay St. Louis Municipal Harbor offers 163 slips, 12 of which are ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible. Amenities include electrical and water service connections, full service restrooms and showers, fuel dock with diesel and non-ethanol gasoline, sewer pump out stations, 24-hour security and a 155-by-60-foot events deck. It can also accommodate vessels upwards of 100 feet for long term or transient dockage. The Jimmy Rutherford Fishing Pier serves as the northern boundary of the harbor basin. The pier length is approximately 1,100 linear feet which includes four covered platforms and a 30-by-50-foot fishing platform (with a 10-by-20-foot covered portion).

For more information about the Bay St. Louis harbor, call 228-467-4226.
Or visit the website

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A poster of the entire mural. Only 80 prints remain, see details below to purchase.

​Hancock County Chancery Clerk Tim Kellar is working with the foundation on the project. “Recently, I met with the artist’s representative and the Pati Bannister Foundation and we are moving forward toward renovating this wonderful piece of Bay St. Louis/ Hancock County art,” Kellar said. “This is a private venture. The Pati Bannister Foundation has agreed to pay a national mural restoration group to determine how to restore the mural and provide a cost analysis.

Bannister, a well known artist and Hancock County resident, died in 2013.

The mural was conceived and painted by well-know coast artist John McDonald. For nearly 16 years, his painters’ studio in the back of Serenity Gallery (now the Shops of Serenity, 126 Main Street), faced a parking lot and a blank brick wall. The empty space fired the artist’s imagination.

In the mid-90s, McDonald drew a mock-up of the mural and later a larger scale drawing. Then he and a group of supporters presented the idea to the Mississippi Arts Commission. The organization provided a grant to cover the costs of painting it.

According to McDonald, two people were pivotal in facilitating the creation of the public artwork: Elizabeth Veglia (mosaic artist with dozens of large public projects around the state), and Betsy Pincus (then owner of Bay Crafts on Beach Blvd.).

The actual painting of the mural took months of work by both McDonald and his assistants. Much of the work had to be done from a bucket lift. Bad weather could hold up progress for days. Worst of all, remembers McDonald, were the gnats.

“Absolutely the most challenging part of the entire process,” says McDonald laughing. “They can drive you insane.”

Several town residents donated to the project to have impressionistic likenesses of themselves painted into the mural. Perhaps the easiest to pick out, even today, is folk artist Alice Moseley, shown wearing her distinctive red beret.

Part of the grant funding including the costs for making 1000 prints of the mural. Unfortunately, those that hadn’t been sold before Hurricane Katrina were destroyed when McDonald’s climate-controlled storage unit in Waveland flooded to the rafters. Only a handful he happened to have with him in his car survived.

However, the print owned by Gulfport attorney Tom Teel, survived and was a treasured part of his office decor. Teel was disturbed that the mural itself, which had sustained major damage in Katrina, had been deteriorating further each year. He eventually contacted Dan Burton, head of the Pati Bannister Foundation to see if they’d be willing to help in the restoration process. Bannister, a well-known artist and Hancock County resident, died in 2013. The process was set into motion.

Tim Kellar said that when the report is done, the Pati Bannister Foundation and artist John D. McDonald will then seek partners to fully fund a restoration.

“People like Tom Teel, Dan Burton and Tim Kellar have been indispensible in the process,” says McDonald. “It takes that kind of interested, enthused support to pull a project like this together.”

Only 80 limited edition prints, signed by the artist, remain. The prints are 24" x 10.5" S/N, titled, $75 each. Contact the artist to purchase.

Cruisin' All Year Long

​So, it is the second Saturday of the month and you are driving on Highway 90 near Dunbar Avenue. You see old cars in the parking lot of Market Town shopping center by Froogels. You are seeing a car show held by the members of the Misfists Street Krewzers. The car enthusiasts are showing their rides and talking car parts to anyone who comes by. Many of these cars are ones some old timers remember owning, and younger folks are attracted to the individuality expressed by these classic rides.

The Misfits were formed in 1999 and have been hosting events throughout the area ever since. According to current president Bobby Gavagnie, their 140 members love old cars from pre-’49 street rods to Corvettes. Active members of the club attend five meetings and five cruise-ins per year. Information about joining and upcoming events can be found at www.msmisfits.com.

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No less important than the cars is the community work the club does. Bobby said that much of what they do raises funds for the community. They love doing mini-car shows at Dunbar Village and senior centers, and you’ll also find the Misfits and their cars at the Rendezvous on Coleman Avenue every Thursday.

One event hosted by the Misfits is The Annual Misfits Street Krewzers Gnat Nationals Open Car/Truck and Bike show at Our Lady of the Gulf. Gnats was added after the first event because the first event was plagued by gnats. For the 17th Annual Gnat Nationals in March, CASA of Hancock County was selected as the charity. A check in the amount of $6,000 was presented to Hancock County CASA CEO Cynthia Chauvin by Misfits Vice President Donna Holland.

Cynthia said that some of the Misfits’ members heard about the work that CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) was doing for children in Hancock County. After meeting with the members and the board, the Misfits chose to be founding supporters of the Candles of Hope Program.

With support of Claiborne Hill Supermarket, the Misfits make birthday cakes for all the children served by CASA. These cakes are personalized for the boys and girls, some of whom have never had a cake of their own. This relationship is working so well that Misfits is going to name CASA as their 2016 Gnats National charity.

Misfits is a very active group. The annual Halloween Cruise-in takes place Saturday, October 24 at the Depot from 6-9 p.m, and Sunday, December 13 is their annual toy drive, with new toys and donations going to the Department of Human Services and the Angel Tree.

When Cruisin’ the Coast is over and you get the need for an “old car fix,” don’t despair! The Misfits Street Krewzers will be in the area showing great cars and raising money for charity.

Crawford Realty Group

​Families have migrated between New Orleans and Bay St. Louis for generations — sometimes for work, sometimes for play, and sometimes for good: People often relocate to the coast full time to raise families or retire. The only thing that’s really changed in the last century is that travel between the two places is now easier and faster.

So like many Bay St. Louis residents, Stephen Crawford grew up with feet firmly planted in both the city and the coast. He formed the Crawford Realty Group as a way to “help families find that place in the world where they can create those genuine memories.”

“In the real estate business, I have a unique opportunity to do something I have a passion for and love to do,” says Crawford.

Holding real estate licenses from both Louisiana and Mississippi gives Crawford lots of options when assisting clients who are shopping for commercial, investment, or residential property. And since Crawford came to real estate with a degree and years of experience in both management and marketing, he’s got the knowledge to get maximum exposure for properties he lists for sale. Crawford even holds the trademark to advertise as a “waterfront specialist.” In fact, he will sometimes take prospective clients on his boat so they can look at properties from the water.

“There’s not a tributary or waterway in this entire area that I haven’t been on,” says Crawford. “Here on the coast, we all have salt in our veins.”

Much of the realtor’s knowledge of local waterways he learned as a boy. While Crawford went to school in New Orleans, his grandmother had a house in Pass Christian, so he spent every holiday boating, crabbing or fishing. His father also rented a cottage every summer in the Bay and an uncle built a home just past Cowand Point near the Dunbar Avenue Pier.

After graduating from Ole Miss with degrees in marketing and management, Crawford moved to the coast full time and began investing in the area. Eventually, he started studying real estate to better understand “what agents were doing on my behalf.”

When he obtained his license, he immersed himself in the business. “I knew if I wanted to be successful, I’d have to give it 110 percent, so I ate, slept and breathed real estate for years.”

While he believes that all real estate agents care about their clients, he says that his job is just beginning at the closing table.

“The reality is that my clients are coming to me to establish a relationship, so I can offer guidance throughout the time they own their investment. It’s a way to set myself apart.”

Crawford also believes in continuing education: “No one knows everything.” He’s currently signed up for a program at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and is part of an advance management development program in real estate. “I love learning,” he says. “I can’t help my clients unless I’m constantly trying to be better and that’s what I strive to do.”

Crawford has been married to Laura Gleason Crawford for eleven years, and the couple has two children they’re raising in the Bay. They’re both active in the community, with Stephen serving as one of the co-organizers of “Pirate Day in the Bay.” The event, produced by The Mystic Krewe of Seahorse earlier in 2015, engaged locals and attracted thousands of visitors. He’s vice president of the Seahorse Krewe, which was formed specifically to help promote economic development in the downtown Bay St. Louis area.

“Being involved with things like the Krewe of Seahorse is a fun way to build relationships and let everyone know they’re included,” he says. “It’s not an exclusive club. It’s just a wonderful vehicle for families to take part in unique events.”

With an eye to the future, Crawford sees the recent growth coming from a new source: young families wanting to live in the area full time. Crawford calls that new uptick “incredibly encouraging.” The time-tested historic model of families living between the city and the coast is also back in full swing.

​“When someone comes to me and says ‘I just want a place for my kids,’ I know what they’re thinking. They want to share and create memories in a wholesome environment. I excel at finding just the right place for them to be able to do that.”

While the realtor says that a community always wants positive economic development, he understands that the unique culture of Bay St. Louis, Waveland and the rest of the coast is what has “people pouring in.”

“In a time when everything is so vanilla, it’s not about getting a Starbucks on every corner, or a strip mall that looks like every other one in the country. The answer is in embracing what we have so that it keeps its charm and its culture.”

Calling Bay St. Louis “one of the most unique small towns in the country,” Crawford thinks that while change is inevitable, it can be “smart growth.”

“It’s like watching a young person growing up and entering adolescence. You hope that moral fiber has already been instilled. In the rejuvenation of Bay St. Louis, we hope we’ve done a good enough job and have given the community enough guidance to protect its core values. I believe we have done that here.”

Crawford says that while people are attracted to the Bay because of the water, the art and the small town charm and the easy-going, family-friendly social scene, he believes one asset rises above the rest.

“It’s the undercurrent of the goodness of the people in this community that makes this place wonderful. That is our biggest asset.”

Dina and John Rosetti and Laura and Stephen Crawford at Pirate Day in the Bay, June 2015.

The Courthouse, the Law Firms and the Barber Shops

​The Hancock County Courthouse was at the center of life in downtown Bay St. Louis when I was growing up. Bay St. Louis was and still is the Hancock County seat. During my childhood all county functions and offices were housed within this courthouse, including the sheriff’s department and county jail, located in the rear of the building.

​In the old or original section of the jail there was still a trap door on the second floor designed for executions by hanging. Ironically, for a period of time, this trapdoor location centered over the kitchen in the old jail.

The Courthouse

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​I’m told that there was only one hanging conducted using this trapdoor and this occurred in the early 1920s. Shortly after this, the state went to the electric chair method of execution and held local executions using a portable or mobile electric chair that went by the name of “Old Sparky”!

​My friend John Genin told me that before the trapdoor inside the jail was utilized, public hangings were held on the Gex Street (east) side of the courthouse. John also told me that until the renovations of the courthouse after Hurricane Katrina, there was still a large metal plate bolted into the bricks where the gallows would be attached to the east wall.
Prior to his attending law school, John’s father, attorney Robert Genin, Sr., worked as a lineman for Cumberland Telegraph & Telephone Company. Mr. Genin used to tell the story of a hanging on the east side of the courthouse. Hangings always drew large crowds and Mr. Genin, in order to get a better view, put on his climbing spurs and climbed the nearest pole to the gallows. When the lever was pulled and the rope snapped, the man’s neck cracked like a rifle shot. Mr. Genin grew faint, his knees buckled and he slid down the pole all the way to the ground!

Photo of the “new” Hancock County Court House shortly after completion. The old court house is partially visible on the left before it was torn down.. This was before Gex and Cue Streets were opened. (Photo courtesy Hancock County Historical Society)

The board of supervisors’ room (my refuge during Hurricane Camille) was in the rear behind the circuit clerk’s office. The circuit clerk was on one side of the building and the chancery clerk, land records and records vault were on the other side. The courts and the courtrooms were upstairs. There were no elevators in those days, just two sets of stairs to the courtroom in the front and one set of stairs to the courtroom and judges’ offices in the rear.

There was a concession stand downstairs in the middle hall between the circuit clerk and chancery clerk’s offices. This concession stand was run by a state organization for the blind and staffed by a lady, Ms. Lillian Carver, who was totally blind. She would walk to and from work at the courthouse every day, as well as all over town, using a seeing-eye dog.

Everybody loved Ms. Lillian because she was very sweet to everyone. Her dog would lie on the floor of the concession stand all day while Ms. Lillian worked selling cold drinks, candy, potato chips, cigarettes and cigars (people still smoked in public buildings back then). There were stories of people trying to fool this lady when making change but she could tell the difference between bill denominations and the size of the coins. You didn’t fool Ms. Lillian. She always would say, “I’m not blind, I just can’t see.”

Another thing that would happen at the courthouse was the gathering for election results on the courthouse lawn. Whenever there were elections, there would be hundreds and hundreds of people gathered in front of the courthouse after the polls closed for the announcing of the election results. There would be people sitting on blankets and lawn chairs, and in the backs of pick-up trucks on the lawn and out in the street. It was like a big picnic with food and refreshments. People had beer and liquor, which occasionally led to brawls over the results of the different races. The first block of Main Street was closed and the election results were announced precinct box by precinct box over a PA system.

​It was quite a party, sometimes going on late into the night. Many times we would leave the courthouse and go to other victory or “crying in your beer” parties for some of the different candidates. I remember once going back to 100 Men Hall when Fred Curet was elected sheriff. My friend Guitar Bo was playing music and the joint was jumping. This party was put on by Fred Curet for his supporters in the black community.

The Law Firms

The Gex Law Firm
No discussion concerning law firms in Bay St. Louis would be complete without talking about the Gex family. The entire Gex clan in Bay St. Louis came from the union of Lucien Myrtile Gex and Maria Victoria Demoruelle Gex. This couple came to Bay St. Louis about 1900. The Gex law firm was founded by their son, Walter J. Gex, Sr. Following their father into the legal profession, Walter Gex, Jr. and Lucien “Push” Gex joined the firm. Sister Ethel Gex was very much involved in the firm as a secretary and legal assistant.

Later, Walter James Phillips, who was the son of Gex sister Weena Gex Phillips, joined the firm as well as Gerald Gex who was one of Push Gex’s two sons. Lucien’s other son Lucien went into private practice and served as house council for General Electric. In the early 1970s, both of Walter Gex, Jr.’s sons, Walter III and Jody joined the firm. Walter Gex III now serves as a federal judge.
​
The Gex family and their siblings were an influential family in Bay St. Louis on a lot of fronts. They had lumber and sawmill interests and owned a sawmill that operated at the end of Blue Meadow Road on the river. There was a rail spur that ran from the sawmill and connected with the L&N Railroad. The Gex Family operated Magnolia State Building Supply, located on the first block of Main Street. The family had financial ties with Merchants Bank & Trust with Gex, Gex & Phillips law firm upstairs in the Merchants Bank Building on South Beach Boulevard. The property that now encompasses the City of Diamondhead was, at one time, owned by the Gex Family.

​Robert Genin, Sr.
Robert Genin, Sr.’s office was originally located several doors down from the courthouse towards the beach in the same building now occupied by architect Edward Wikoff. Robert Genin practiced law in Hancock County for over forty years beginning around 1920 and ending with his death in 1961. Robert Genin, Sr. had two sons who graduated law school and practiced in Bay St. Louis. Robert Genin, Jr. and John Genin practiced with Favre, Genin & Scafide, and John Genin was a Hancock County prosecutor.

Favre, Genin & Scafide
Favre, Genin & Scafide originated with the law practice of Judge Dan Russell, who went on to serve as a federal judge in 1965. Dan Russell’s father was an attorney who came to Gulfport from Magee by way of Oxford. Dan Russell, Jr. came to Bay St. Louis after graduating from Ole Miss Law School and began practicing law just before the beginning of World War II. He returned to Bay St. Louis after the war and re-established his law practice.

​Later, in the early 1950s, Sam Favre, Jr. joined the practice and when Dan Russell was appointed federal judge in 1965, Ruble Griffin joined the firm. Mr. Griffin later also became a judge and Robert Genin, Jr. joined the practice when he completed law school.
Several years later, Robert’s younger brother, John Genin, joined the firm, as well as the John Scafide, Jr., the son of former Bay St. Louis mayor John Scafide. This was when the firm became Favre, Genin & Scafide. The office was located directly across Main Street from the Hancock County courthouse and is currently occupied by attorney Jimmy McGuire. Sam Favre died in 1991, and by around 2013 Robert and John Genin, as well as John Scafide, all had retired. The firm was a powerhouse in Hancock County back in the day.

​Haas & Haas
Haas and Haas law firm was brothers Mac and Mike Haas. At various times, both brothers practiced independently of each other. These brothers were the sons of Norton Haas, who had timber holdings and was a principal in the Herlihy, Haas and McCleod sawmill at one time. Mr. Norton Haas was very involved in Hancock County politics. Brother Mike Haas was the attorney for Coast Electric Power Association for many years before his death.

The Get Of Jail Free Card
Around 1972 one of my friends (who shall remain anonymous), with the encouragement of several other friends, decided to enter into the political arena. He decided to run for the position of constable in Hancock County. To be honest, it was all done as kind of a joke with no expectations of getting into the second primary runoff, much less winning the race. He jokingly passed out hand-lettered political business cards with his name and Get Out Of Jail Free Card – valid upon election to Constable Hancock County.

​​Well, in the first primary because of the county vote being split between four or five other candidates, he garnered more votes than any of the other candidates and made it into the second primary. We were all shocked because no one had thought this possible. The friend then received several phone calls from anonymous sources. One of these calls was an offer of $500 cash if he would withdraw from the race! Election day arrived and my friend was the only candidate from Bay St. Louis. The other candidates had all been from up in the county. In the second primary he was defeated by an overwhelming vote from the north part of the county. I think all of us, including my friend, breathed a sigh of relief.

The Bay St. Louis police department with Mayor John Scafide and councilmen Cyrill Glover and Warren Traub in the early 1960s. There are at least four future Bay Police Chiefs in the photo, Douglas Williams, Billy Carbonette, Lathan Garriga and Bob Goodsell. (You Know You’re From The Bay If – Facebook Group)

Crime
There wasn’t much crime that took place back then but, of course, the area population was less than what it is today. Another thing was that most of the town’s residents at the time were locals, having grown up and lived here all of their lives.

Drugs were pretty much unheard of with the general public. Occasionally you might read about marijuana or heroin in some magazine article or a New Orleans newspaper, but they certainly weren’t the scourge back then that they have become today. There were burglaries and auto thefts here and there, but that was about the extent of it.

Occasionally there would be some sensational crime, like a murder, that would totally shock the town. The murder of Mr. Charlie Flink was such a crime. Mr. Flink, whose family ran one of the praline and gift shops on Highway 90, was shot and killed in his garage by a drifter named Dale Morris in November of 1955. Morris was trying to steal tires off of Flink’s automobile in the middle of the night. Flink was shot twice in the chest and once in the back as he attempted to crawl back to the door of the house. Morris, who became known as “the Cowboy,” was in fact a real cowboy from Montana with a long history of crime. There were three sensational trials, two for first-degree murder ending in mistrials. There were numerous accusations of improprieties, including jury tampering and improper prisoner privileges.

Eventually the case was pleaded down to manslaughter and Morris received a twelve-year sentence to Parchman. Because of his cowboy background, Morris became a trustee working with the prison horses. Unbelievably, as a trustee, he was allowed to travel on horse buying trips on behalf of the prison. Many have called these trips weekend passes. Whatever you want to call them, on one of these trips Morris just disappeared and was never seen again. This disappearance prompted then governor Ross Barnett to issue the famous statement, “If you can’t trust a trustee, who can you trust?”

I have talked with folks who say that seemingly normal women in Bay St. Louis went absolutely bonkers over this handsome criminal Dale Morris. The courtroom was filled to capacity on every day of the trial, with many being turned away. One well-known local woman, when turned away, climbed out on the roof of the courthouse and got stuck trying to climb through a small window in the woman’s restroom! Women were allowed in and out of Morris’s cell inappropriately and he received money and food from local townspeople. There were some vague accounts of Morris’s other scrapes with the law after his disappearance, but in reality, this con man criminal vanished into thin air.

One thing that I don’t remember happening much back in those days was bank robberies. In these times, it seems that we go through periods when we have one and two a week on the coast, and because of a weak economy and desperate financial times they have become quite commonplace. Thank goodness that, despite modern society, Bay St. Louis’s crime, while far more common than it used to be, is still relatively infrequent compared to some of our neighbors like the city of New Orleans.
​
During my formative years there was no such thing as a DUI or Public Drunk charges. More often than not, if the police did pull you over for being drunk, they would follow or drive you home and tell you to go to bed. I make no judgment concerning this issue, but times sure seemed to be a whole lot simpler back in those days.

The Barber Shops

Piazza Brothers Barber Shop
There are advertisements in a 1925 Sea Coast Echo for Piazza Bothers Barber Shop. Piazza Brothers was operated by Tony Piazza and his brother Sam Piazza. By my early years, Sam Piazza was no longer involved, but the business was still named Piazza Brothers. This barber shop had been in operation since 1925 in the same location at the foot of Main Street, on the water side of Beach Boulevard.

When I was a child, Oren Cuevas was the other barber in the shop. Piazza Brothers was a hot spot of the downtown social scene for Bay St. Louis males. There was an older black man named Buddy Nichols who had a shoeshine stand along the rear wall of the shop. There was a door in the rear that led into a ladies’ beauty parlor.

Several things stand out in my memory about Piazza Brothers. The first is that there was a picture of my friend, Carey Phillips, with Tony Piazza giving him his first haircut when he was about two years old. Carey was pitching a fit and crying with his dad, Walter James Phillips, and Tony Piazza in the picture behind him. This picture in the window became a constant source of embarrassment and ridicule for Carey, especially when he reached his teenage years.
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The other thing I remember about Piazza Brothers is eccentric local attorney Eddie I. Jones getting his hair cut and beard shaved. Eddie I. Jones had a ponytail and big full bushy beard in the mid-‘50s, and he rode a ten-speed bicycle. At some point Oren Cuevas told Eddie that he would give him a haircut and a shave for free. It was a big deal in downtown Bay St. Louis, and the Sea Coast Echo even took before and after photos and ran them in the newspaper. These photos also ended up in the front window of Piazza Brothers. After Hurricane Camille wiped the beach side clean and destroyed Mr. Tony’s business, he moved into J.C. Shubert’s shop at the corner of Second and DeMontluzin.

Tony Benigno’s Barber Shop
Tony Benigno’s barber shop was close to the depot at the corner of Bookter Street and Blaize Avenue on the property where J.P. Compretta has his law office today. This shop was across the street from the L & N Train Depot, just a couple of doors down from Engman’s Department Store on Bookter Street. Albert Piazza told me that at one time Mr. Maurigi had a cobbler shop on one side and the Rhodes family had a seafood market on the other side. Mr. Tony was one of the Benigno brothers (along with Sylvester, John, Norman, Lukie and Sam). As a young kid, I got a lot of haircuts from Mr. Tony because it was close to the St. Stanislaus school and close enough to walk to from my grandparents’ house on Ballentine Street.
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Two things stand out in my mind about Mr. Tony’s shop. One is that there were several large wall tapestries depicting dogs playing poker. I remember getting a real kick out of this when I was young. The other thing is that there were several large Japanese plum trees out the back door of the shop. Those trees always seemed loaded with plums in season, and I loved Japanese plums! Also, Mr. Tony’s shop always smelled good, like aftershave and hair tonic.

Al Kingston’s Barber Shop
Al Kingston’s barber shop was on Blaize Avenue at Five Corners, next to Emmett Demoran’s television and appliance shop. Kingston also sold sporting goods and fishing tackle in the shop. What I remember most about Kingston’s was that he was the barber for St. Stanislaus when I was attending. If I remember correctly, he would come to Stanislaus and give haircuts to the boarders in the study halls, but if one of the brothers thought your hair was too long or unacceptable, he would tell you to march down to Al Kingston’s and get a haircut. If you got told twice, you were in a life-threatening situation!

​I remember that my buddy Louie Young was getting his hair styled by some fancy stylist in New Orleans when he went home on weekends. He was paying this guy like twenty dollars to style his hair, which was a lot of money in 1966. Louie came back to school on Sunday night with the latest long slicked back razor-cut style, complete with the box cut bottom in the back. Brother Joseph, the prefect, took one look at it and marched Louie down to Al Kingston the next day. When Al got finished with Louie he was sporting one of those Marine Jarhead cuts! Louie was not a happy camper, but Brother Joseph was smiling from ear to ear!

​JC Shubert’s Barber Shop
I don’t remember when J.C. Shubert built his shop at the corner of Second and DeMontluzin, but I think that it was around 1960. I do know that Chippy Henry told me that Shubert’s was the first place that his brother Danny worked after he got out of barber school. Chippy and Danny grew up just down the street at the corner of Second and St. George, right across from Mertz’s Cleaners. Chippy told me that he made good money at the time shining shoes in the barber shop while his brother Danny was cutting hair. I do know that in 1969 after Hurricane Camille washed Piazza Brothers away, Tony Piazza moved back and started cutting hair at JC Shubert’s shop.

​Joe Perniciaro’s Barber Shop
Joe Perniciaro was Lucien Perniciaro’s son. He opened a barber shop in 1963 out on Highway 90 next to Scafide’s Wheel Inn, in a little building that he rented from August Scafide. The building is still there and recently been remodeled and painted yellow. Hurricane Camille blew the roof off his shop and he moved to a building that he built on his dad’s property. Joe was a barber for thirteen years and, in fact, he recently told me that he still maintains his Master Barber’s License. Joe was about five or six years older than I was and he did do a lot of business in the area during the time that his shop was open. I primarily went to Joe Perniciaro in the mid 1960s when I was in high school going to St. Stanislaus.

West End Restaurant
635 Highway 90
Waveland, MS 39576
228.466.5225

Fans returning to Waveland’s West End Restaurant, which was closed for a short hiatus, are finding some changes to the dining room and the menu. The raw bar, featuring a small pirogue, is where diners can choose from raw oysters, ceviche, marinated crab claws and shrimp cocktail. Owners Kelyn and Mark Breland plan to add a variety of oysters from Alabama and other states soon. They’re also planning to offer an early-bird special soon.

On a recent Tuesday, diners on lunch break filled tables in the front dining room, a gathering of friends met on the sunny side courtyard and a hard working group from the Cleaver met for our casual monthly lunch in the middle dining room. Its chalkboard walls are decorated with quotes by foodies and about eating. It fits right in with the Brelands’ motto for West End: Small-town ease, Big Easy Flavor.

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The couple opened West End in the summer of 2008, using the experience they had gained with Daddy-O’s, their popular breakfast and lunch diner well known for its signature doughnuts. West End came about when the Brelands set out to try a new type of restaurant post-Katrina.

Meals at West End start with a small loaf of French bread delivered to the table in a paper bag. It's a nice way to get a meal under way and the bread at West End is warm, light and crispy.

I didn’t do the math but our table seemed split between the menu classics and the daily specials. I had a cup of rich gumbo loaded with seafood along with half a fried shrimp poboy on Leidenheimer bread. Pardon the crumbs. Enough said.

Up and down the table, all the choices appeared appetizing, from the generous and juicy West End burger covered with melted Swiss to the show-stopping avocado crab salad and the fried green tomato poboy. An appetizer of fried green tomatoes topped with crabmeat and accompanied by a small serving of a special sauce stood up well to the full-sized entrees.

West End is partial to seafood but if you lean more toward pasta, steaks, and veal dishes you can find those, too.

West End, located at 635 U.S. Route 90, is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Termites in Live Oaks? Yikes, YES!

This USDA photograph shows a Formosan termite nest in the heart of what was a living tree.

Each year in late spring, Formosan termites swarm the Gulf Coast, and this year was no exception. It is important to keep an eye on your trees and be aware that an infestation in trees can lead to an infestation in your home. “The good news is that we can treat infestations and do preventative treatments on trees,” said David Mayley of Mayley’s Pest Control. “The bad news is, Formosan termites have become the number one termite problem in south Hancock County, and they’re not going away.”

Mayley has seen the most damage to live oaks, water oaks, and magnolias, but many types of trees are affected. Sap-producing trees like pines are less vulnerable to infestations because the sap protects against insects.

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Hancock County Extension agent Christian Stephenson and Mayley both say that the most important defense against infestation of any sort is the maintenance of tree health. Also, damage or dead wood on trees can be an invitation for termites. Removal of dead wood is vital to preventing termite infestations.

Keep areas around trees free of weeds, debris, and large decorative objects, says Mayley. Allow the tree breathing room where its trunk meets the ground.

Stephenson also emphasizes that in terms of general live oak care, the most important thing people can do is take care of the soil around the trees. “The biggest issue I see impacting live oaks and other trees is people putting too much stuff around them,” he says. Not just mulch, but also concrete – driveways, for example. Trees have expansive root systems, so “give them their space,” he says.

Signs of Formosan termites in a tree are similar to the signs you would see in a home: entry holes, possible signs of sawdust, and visible damage. “Often tunneling outside the bark of the tree is the first sign you will see of a tree infestation,” Mayley says. Termites will protect themselves from elements and predators by creating a working highway on the tree (or home) that they are invading.

Mayley says that chemical preventative measures can be taken for trees, while trees that are already infested can be injected with a chemical, the most common being Fipronil – found in Termidor or Taurus brand products.

Stephenson says if you see areas of a tree not leafing, if the tree has stopped growing, or if the tree is behaving differently from how it normally does at a certain time of year or differently from surrounding trees, it is a sign of need for further investigation.

If you live in Hancock County and have a tree that is behaving abnormally, you may contact Stephenson at the Hancock County extension office, cstep@ext.msstate.edu. A home visit by Stephenson – who holds degrees in Entomology and plant pathology as well as being a certified arborist – to inspect a tree or trees on property in Hancock County is free of charge.

On the topic of general tree health and maintenance, Stephenson adds that beyond the removal of dead wood, there is rarely any need to prune live oaks. “They do very well defining their own shape,” he says.

Stephenson adds one more issue he often encounters with people and their live oak trees: “Trees often develop a cavity in their trunk. I have seen people fill this hole with tires, concrete, sand,” He pauses and sighs. “Uh, don’t,” he says. “The tree will compartmentalize the area and it will take care of itself.”

But again, if a hole is collecting water and appears vulnerable or is showing damage or symptoms of infestation, contact Stephenson or a specialist like Mayley. Tree health and maintenance is your best weapon against termites, other insects, and disease in your trees.

Formosan Subterraneaen Termite Distribution in the United States Data provided by David Woodson, USGS

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Bay Featured on WGNO's "News With a Twist"

​Old Town merchants and Mayor Les Fillingame turn out in full force to tape a spot for WGNO (New Orleans) "News With A Twist." The show will be featuring the Bay as a fun place to visit and aired the week of October 7th. Watch one of the short video spots below!

Carts4Kids Project by S&L Office and CASA

On Saturday, September 12, 2015 Chris Cochran of S&L Office Supplies in Waveland presented a check to CASA of Hancock County’s Executive Director, Cynthia Chauvin. This check was made possible through a recycling project that Cochran started in early 2015 entitled Carts4kids.

S&L Office Supplies collects used toner cartridges from businesses and individuals in the community. If a business agrees to donate used cartridges he will have one of his employees pick up the materials. Cochran also uses his business as a drop off location for individuals and smaller businesses. Once bundled, these used products are shipped off and either refilled and/or repurposed back into the community.

Cochran created Carts4kids as a way to encourage recycling within his business and to give back to community organizations who do amazing work. “CASA volunteers advocate for abused and neglected children," CASA’s ED Cynthia Chauvin said. "As a local nonprofit, we are always looking for ways to get the community involved in our cause. Carts4kids allows people to learn more about CASA and to help raise funds by recycling." In addition to the $1032 check that was presented to CASA, S&L Office Supplies also donated a black and white copier/scanner to the organization.

If you are interested donating used toner cartridges please visit the carts4kids.com website or contact S&L Office Supplies at 228.467.0002. If you would like to know more about CASA please call 228.344.0419.

George's Girls Expands

Co-owner Ann Yarbrough, of George's Girls in the new beachfront space.

George's Girls, 108 S. Beach, in the French Settlement Building, have nearly doubled the size of their store this month. In addition to their luxury bedding and sleepwear, they're also carrying fashion, loungewear and accessories.

​“Purveyors of Fine Linens” is the shop’s tag-line, yet co-owner Laura Lucore points out that they carry all types of products to “make your home luxurious and to pamper yourself.”

Library Launches Digital Project

October is American Archives month! To celebrate, the Hancock County Library in Bay St. Louis, in cooperation with the Hancock County Historical Society, is hosting Back in Time, a day of archival discovery and participation on October 10 at the library in Bay St. Louis. Help us make history more accessible to everyone, and learn more about the importance of preserving, cataloging, and caring for the things that are important to you.

Anthony J. Scafidi Photography Exhibit: Identify people, places, and events in historical photos from the Hancock County Historical Society’s Anthony J. Scafidi collection. Dozens of mid-century portrait, group, home and business photos from the Bay St. Louis photographer on display in the library and on Facebook online. Tag anyone you recognize!

Transcribe vintage postcards: Get to know pen pals of the 1940s, 50s and 60s by transcribing the messages on historic postcards. We’re digitizing these postcards and posting them in the Mississippi Digital Library so everyone can enjoy.

Scanner demos: Bring a family photo or document and see a demo of our fast new scanner. Maybe it’s time to preserve your past, safe from storms and other hazards.

Be a citizen scientist or archivist: Make amazing discoveries with these online projects. You can do a lot of things computers can’t!

Zooniverse: Contribute to real research by studying images, historical records, or diaries.

Old Weather: Help develop climate projections by transcribing weather observations from ships’ logs.

Historic Tour Goes Digital

The Bay St. Louis Walking and Biking Tour is proof in print that history doesn’t have to be boring.

Often called Hancock Tourism’s most popular handout, the free twelve-page brochure leads visitors – and locals – along an easy one and a half mile route through Old Town, with 24 special points of interest. A new digital version even lets people take the tour with smart phones in hand. To find out more about the latest edition and how you can share it with friends, read the story here!

Click on the tour icon here to open up the digital version now!

Dolly's Invited!

If Smith & Lens Gallery owners/artists Ann Madden and Sandy Maggio have anything to do with it, Dolly Parton will be celebrating her next birthday in Old Town Bay St. Louis. The country-western icon was born in January, so Madden, Maggio and other Old Town merchants are planning a themed Second Saturday on January 9th.

The event will feature a Dolly Parton look-alike contest and organizers hope to have a host of other happenings like hay rides, clogging and square dancing, country food, live music and a Dolly-themed art show. The theory is that Dolly will hear about it and want to come check out the Bay in person!

Stay tuned for more details by checking out the Old Town Merchants website or checking out the Dolly Should page on Facebook!

The Flawed, But Perfect Dog

The white dog named after a general didn't meet many of the criteria that would make up the idea of a perfect dog. It turns out heart trumps lists in the story of foster failure. ​- story and photos by Ellis Anderson

We fell in love with Bay St Louis the minute we saw it. After completing 35 years as corporate gypsies with Caterpillar Inc. and before settling into our pink cottage on Hancock Street (under renovation), we wanted to contemplate our life transition. We decided to trek 45 days across Spain on a thousand-year-old pilgrimage known as the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrims traditionally set off from their home towns. In April 2015, Father Mike O’Connor of Our Lady of the Gulf sent us off with a special pilgrim’s blessing.

We hopped on a transatlantic cruise and made our way to St-Jean-Pied-de-Porte, France, our stepping off point over the Pyrenees Mountains.

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The route we chose, called the Camino Frances (French Way), would take us one million steps over 45 days to our destination of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. We set out each morning in faith – no maps – no plan more complex than following yellow arrows marking the 500-mile path. We averaged 13 miles a day over mountains, through deep woods, and across river valleys and high plains, stopping in tiny villages for simple meals and a bed. It was powerful to walk the same ancient paths as pilgrims a thousand years before us. The same route. The same churches. And often, the same hardships and joys. We shared warm fellowship and collected new friendships all along the way.Some fellow pilgrims who inspired us:

William, a rancher from South Africa who is restoring indigenous breeds of cattle in partnership with tribal villages.

Chet, recalibrating his life after serving four U.S. military tours in the Mideast.

Frank, a blue collar retiree who, on his first trip to Europe, walked the entire 500 miles of the Camino and then tacked on another 150-mile trek because he didn’t want to end his feeling of freedom.

Hugo, a devout Catholic from South Korea who stayed in monasteries along the way.

Linda and Sheila, childhood friends who used the Camino to celebrate 50th birthdays and consider their paths ahead.

Joel, former CFO of Bank of America who, on his knees, tended the blisters of many fellow pilgrims.

What the Camino taught us:

Celebrate the moment. We found ourselves walking in quiet meditation, filled with gratitude for the blessings in our lives.

We’re tougher than we thought. The Camino is a grueling physical challenge. We walked 45 days straight without a blister or strain.

We need less than we ever thought. Simple meals, spartan sleeping rooms, a few clothes that we washed every few days, a pair of walking shoes – and we were as content as when we had a house bulging with material possessions.

We invite you to look through our blog, “Dancing Down the Camino,” where we maintained our journal of the 500-mile pilgrimage (wiebmer.blogspot.com). If local groups or organizations would be interested in learning more about how this adventure enhanced our lives we’d be happy to share some photos and stories through a presentation. Our pilgrimage started in Bay St. Louis. Now we’re completing it with the renovation of our house on Hancock Street, which will soon be complete. We’re excited to set down roots and begin weaving ourselves into the fabric of this wonderful community.

Dancing Down the Camino! Click on the picture to go check out the Wiebmer's online journal of the trip!

Man-tiques

Couples frequent the antique shops around town. Some do this as a hobby together, and sometimes one partner is less than willing to be hauled around on a shopping spree. Men toting bags for women is a common sight, and men sitting on benches in front of shops with bored looks on their faces is even more common. But when the heat starts to get to them, they venture inside only to find that they will be the partner being dragged out of the shop.

With Cruisin' the Coast around the corner, we all know to stock up on certain items geared toward a manly demographic. You'll start to see metal signs, industrial pieces, and car parts. The whole ballgame changes for us.

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We don't get rid of the feminine aspects of our selection, we just level the playing field a bit. So what do men want? I'm still trying to find that answer in regards to everything but antiques.

The most common item that men purchase in my shop has to be old license plates. I could sell them all day. Whether they're putting them on hot rods or hanging them in man caves, I know they're a guaranteed sale. Architectural salvage such as door knobs, handles, and faucets are another hot item. With all the restoration going on in this area, the prevalent DIYer finds himself in my shop buying parts to restore or repair household items – the ultimate man boost. Nautical items such as paddles, portholes, and buoys make excellent man cave decor. One of my male customers buys broken paddles because his grandfather had a collection of them. Every time I get one in, I set it aside for him. I love his enthusiasm for collecting so much that I even let go a special pair of my own wooden paddles so he could add them to the rest.

Now of course we sell a LOT of pin-up related items. I have two customers that I call immediately when I get a Vargas girl print. I sell several books about pin-ups and I sell most of them to women who are buying them as gifts for their men. Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a vintage Vargas!

Magnolia Antiques has a pin-up poster of famous burlesque queen “Cat Girl” Lilly Christine for sale. Lilly performed her trademark voodoo love-potion dance at Prima’s 500 Club and other clubs on Bourbon Street in New Orleans from the late ‘40s until her death in 1965 at age 41. She posed as a pin-up, had minor parts in Hollywood films and even did her act on Broadway. Burlesque aficionados aren’t alone in finding fascination with these historic beauties!

Your man needs something to read while you're trying on clothes. The key to a man's heart may be through his stomach, but the key to his mind is an interesting book. Audubon books top the list of my best-sellers, sailing books are a close second, and Hemingway's novels have to be third. They're fascinating and they don't look bad on a coffee table either.

One of my dealers (people who sell things out of my shop) is known as "Mantique Dan." You'll probably recognize his name because he's in several shops around town. Dan has a cult following of men (and women) who make a beeline to his booths to search for tools, primitives, and industrial salvage. He's got a little bit of everything and if you catch him at a shop, he'll deal with you all day long. He's been an antique dealer on the coast for several years and has built quite a reputation for being a purveyor of mantiques. If you're looking for tools, salvage, railroad items, brass findings, or really anything – Dan's got it, and he's everywhere.

Whether you're shopping during Cruisin' or getting a head start on Christmas shopping, hit up the local antique shops to find things that make them swoon.

On the morning of Saturday, October 17, rain or shine, hundreds of volunteers will fan out along south Mississippi for the 27th annual Mississippi Coastal Cleanup, part of an annual international coastal cleanup that is conducted each fall on beaches and islands throughout the world.

This year is the 30th anniversary of Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, the world’s largest volunteer effort to clean up the marine environment. (Last year, nearly 650,000 volunteers from 91 countries participated in this global cleanup effort and picked up more than 12 million pounds of trash in a single day.)

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The Mississippi Coastal Cleanup is this state’s coast-wide volunteer effort to help keep our waterways free from trash, and safe for people and animals. The annual cleanup — sponsored and organized by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) and the Mississippi Marine Debris Task Force — takes place at more than 70 sites in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties.

In Mississippi last year, more than 3,000 volunteers collected more than 60 tons of trash during the annual cleanup. Any land that borders the water — the Mississippi Sound, the bay, bayous, or canals — will be included in the cleanup. Boaters are encouraged to get out to the barrier islands (Cat Island, East Ship Island, Horn Island, Petit Bois Island and Sand Island) and comb those beaches as well.

Marine debris includes cigarette butts, toys, single-use cups and bottles, fishing line, and lots of other types of garbage. Anything man-made, including litter and fishing gear, can become marine debris once lost or thrown into the marine environment. The most common materials that make up marine debris are plastics, glass, metal, paper, cloth, rubber, and wood. If they are on the beaches and coastlines, then they very likely will end up in our oceans.

Hancock County has participated in the global event for the last 26 years. Eighteen of the Mississippi cleanup sites are located in Hancock County, including McLeod State Park, Jourdan River Shores, Garden Isles, Diamondhead Yacht Club, Buccaneer State Park, Bayou LaCroix, Bayou Cadet, Lakeshore and Clermont harbors, the Depot District, and seven different sites along Beach Boulevard in Waveland and Bay St. Louis.

Last year, more than 300 Hancock County volunteers took part in the local cleanup effort, organized by the Hancock Chamber of Commerce. Nearly two tons of debris were pulled from county shores and waters, and 187 bags of garbage were collected. This year, Hancock County’s Coastal Cleanup is being coordinated by the Mississippi State University (MSU) Hancock County Extension Office.

Our coastal and marine resources matter, especially in Hancock County. While this county represents only a small geographic area of the state of Mississippi, we have a big front yard. What happens in the Gulf of Mexico has a significant impact on Mississippi and the entire Gulf region. Our annual coastal cleanup is a reminder that we can make a difference in keeping our shorelines clean and litter-free — one cigarette butt, scrap of fishing line or discarded plastic bag at a time.

Are you ready to take action? Join us on October 17th for the 27th annual Mississippi Coastal Cleanup (and be part of the 30th anniversary of the International Coastal Cleanup)! The event in Mississippi will be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and there will be a cookout lunch provided for Hancock County volunteers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., sponsored by the office of Congressman Steven Palazzo and the Bay St. Louis Rotary Club.

Please visit www.mscoastalcleanup.org for a complete list of cleanup sites and to register online or print a registration form, which you can bring with you on cleanup day and turn in at your selected site. Children are welcome and encouraged to participate in the cleanup but must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Bring work gloves, drinking water, sunscreen and a hat, closed toe shoes, and a bucket or bag to collect debris. See you there!

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10/1 - Thursday

Hancock Medical, Coast Electric, and the Hancock Chamber of Commerce present Oktoberfest Business After Hours in Diamondhead. Come ring in autumn with brats, burgers, and knockwurst served with sauerkraut and plenty of cold beverages.

10/3 - Saturday

Enjoy a full day of music, food, and fun at St. Rose de Lima! Plenty of toys for the kids like water slides and castles, great food, a raffle, and bands all day and night, with headliners the Starz Band!

10/8 - 11 in the Bay!

It’s back! The 19th annual classic car fest, the biggest of its kind featuring cruise-ins, rock ‘n’ roll, drag races, sock hops, swap meet, CTC/Vicari auto auction and so much more.! Over 7000 entrants cruise up and down Highway 90 from Ocean Springs to the Bay all week, with the biggest crowds hitting Bay St. Louis from Wednesday through Sunday. Here in Bay St. Louis we’ll have afternoon bands Wednesday through Saturday, capped off with Vince Vance and the Valiants! See the website for more info!

10/10 - Saturday

Second Saturday Art WalkOld Town Bay St. Louis
Lively All Day
Gallery openings and live music 4-8 p.m.

Come early to check out the Cruisin’ the Coast festivities, then stay for Bay St. Louis’s monthly art walk and evening hangout! Stores stay open late. Kelsey Moran will be playing on the street down by this month’s hotspot Southern Accents, the Mockingbird Cafe hosts music on their outdoor stage as well, and shops and galleries stay open until 8 p.m.

10/11 - Sunday

Sangha Sunday
Treehouse Yoga110 South Second Street
(upstairs at the Mockingbird)
Bay St. Louis5 - 6pm
By donation

You’ve been intending to slow down, but you haven’t had the time. Well, set the irony of that conundrum to the side for an hour on Sunday evening, and get back to your center before starting the week with mindfulness meditation and breathing at the Treehouse. Sangha means a kinship or community coming together with a common purpose, and the intention of this monthly second Sunday gathering is to cultivate peace and connection in our community.

10/17 - Saturday

​Register at the website, and see the poster for cleanup sites, which in Hancock County include almost 20 sites in Diamondhead, Kiln, Bay St. Louis, Waveland, and Lakeshore.

Coastal Clean-UpHancock County Coastline
8am - 11am

Every October, thousands of concerned citizens take to the streets and beaches all along the Gulf Coast to pick up trash that can pollute our waterways and endanger the lives of countless animals. Join the more than 65,000 volunteers who over the past 27 years have been making a difference one bag at a time, removing more than 1.6 million pounds of trash from Mississippi's coastal landshores, waterways, and barrier island beaches. Register at the website, and see the poster for cleanup sites, which in Hancock County include almost 20 sites in Diamondhead, Kiln, Bay St. Louis, Waveland, and Lakeshore.

10/17 - Saturday

Marcia Ball Show100 Men Hall
303 Union Street
Bay St. Louis8 p.m.
$30

Gulf Coast AND Louisiana Hall-of-Famer Marcia Ball is back at the 100 Men Hall: an icon in an iconic venue on a night not to be missed! Ball is a roadhouse soul rocker and Grammy-nominated piano storyteller whose style veers between R&B, Gulf Coast blues, Louisiana swamp ballads, and Texas zydeco. Put it all in the legendary 100 Men Hall and you’ll be dancing all night.

10/20 - Tuesday

Fundraising golf classic to benefit the Hancock Community Development Foundation. The foundation serves as an umbrella 501(c)(3) non-profit for organizations that enhance economic development and quality of life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Contests, refreshments, exhibits, and door prizes! Corporate sponsorships available. Contact (228) 467-9048 for more info on registration.

10/31 - Saturday

Exciting inaugural Halloween Masquerade Ball for Hope Haven, non-profit advocates for abused and neglected children. Food from local eateries, costume contest with $1,000 in prizes, (best single, best couple and best group costumes), music by Pat Murphy and the Jumpin’ Jukes, cash bar and silent auction! Adults 21 and over.

10/31 - Saturday

A Halloween favorite in the Bay! Hosted by the Hancock County Historical Society, tour features locals dressed as historic Bay figures who tell their spooky tales to guests walking the candlelit paths. Stop into the Kate Lobrano House at 108 Cue Street afterward for refreshments.

​Scroll down for dozens of pictures of August happenings! If you're featured in one of the pictures below, feel free to copy it onto your desktop and share. If you're posting it somewhere like Facebook, a nod to the Cleaver is much appreciated!

These images are low resolution for faster internet loading - which means they won't print to best advantage. Please contact Ellis Anderson for print quality files.

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Old Town merchants and Mayor Les Fillingame turn out in full force to tape a spot for WGNO (New Orleans) "News With A Twist." The show will be featuring the Bay as a fun place to visit and will air the week of October 7th.

Moonlight In the Bay - September 11, 2015

Each year the Hancock Medical Foundation holds its annual Moonlight in the Bay gala to raise funds for hospital equipment. This year’s gala honored president of the Hancock Medical Board of Trustees, retired Hall of Fame basketball coach and award-winning educator J. Larry Ladner.

A Taste of the Future - September 10, 2015

Benefit for the Boys and Girls Club: Guests enjoyed beer tasting, light appetizers and music. There were also be door prizes and an assorted raffle.